Deciding which electric bike kit is right for you isn't always straightforward and there are several factors that will influence your decision. So, here's our quick guide to choosing an electric bike kit with the pros and cons of each kit listed to help you decide.
Road Legal Kits
The following kits are legal to use on UK roads and are the same specification as the electrical components fitted to factory produced electric bike.
They're designed to comply with UK law so will stop giving assistance at just over 15.5mph. The main question of course is "will 250w be powerful enough to help me up steep hills?" The answer is "Yes" - if you fit the pedal assistance system (which we strongly recommend - it will transform the riding experience).
By choosing a high-power level on the pedal assistance controller and pedalling normally you'll have the ability to tackle hills that you wouldn't consider attempting on a normal bike. You only need to go for a more powerful 500w or 1000w rear kit if you're off-roading and have a need for speed. So, for on road use in even the hilliest areas then any of the 250w kits will be suitable from a performance and road-legal perspective.
Off Road Kits
All of our motors will come in 250w mode to make them compliant with UK law, and when in their derestricted mode they're not allowed on UK roads. These kits are best for any riders who will want that bit of extra power when out in the countryside, but still wish to ride on the roads when required. The high powered kits are:
TongSheng TSDZ2B - up to 500W
The acceleration and speed of the more powerful kits is something to behold - it really is great if you want to take your bike off-road for the weekend and have some fun. Both the 500Q and 1000W kits are gearless so there's some resistance/drag from the wheel when you're riding the bike without the power on. Deciding which of the 500W or 1000wWkits to choose is relatively simple - choose the 1000w if you want outright speed (up to 30mph) but don't have hills to tackle or choose the 500w kit if you want a combination of speed (20-25mph) and hill climbing ability.
So, which kit should you choose? The 250w kits are the sensible options that will suit most needs from commuting; leisure cycling and holidays. The higher-powered kits will suit most thrill seekers who want to have some fun on their bike at the weekend. Whichever kit you decide to install on your bike you won't regret it - we never tire of watching our customers take their newly converted bike out for a test ride and proclaim (whilst smiling) "that felt great - it's makes cycling so easy".